Thermoplastic film lavatory



Oct. 16, 1962 Filed June 16, 1960 B. B. MCDANIEL ETAL THERMOPLASTIC FILM LAVATORY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS BILLY B. McDANIEL CLYDE N. KRACHT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToRs BILLY B. McDANIEL CLYDE N. KRACHT s, Bq

Oct. 16, 1962 Filed June 16, 1960 Oct. 16, 1962 B. B. McDANn-:L ETAL THERMOPLASTIC FILM LAVATORY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 16, 1960 INVENTORS BILLY B. MCDANIEL BY CLYDE N. KRACHT Oct. 16, 1962 B. B. MGDANIEL r-:TAL 3,058,122

THERMOPLASTIC FILM LAVATORY Filed June 1e. 1960 4 sheets-sheet 4 United States This invention relates to an inflatable lavatory in which to bedand wash a human body. More particularly, this inventionrelates to a cellular construction of thermoplastic film which is foldable into a compact for-m, and which can be readily and quickly pneumatically inated into a lavatory to support a prone human body during lavage thereof and which is provided with means to drain off uids.

In a war emergency or other disasters, such as certain types of atomic explosions a serious medical problem is posed by the need for providing early treatment of large numbers of badly burned people. Success in the treatment of wounds or serious radiation burns requires prompt treatment, cleanliness and early `growth of new skin. In hospitals, this is usually accomplished in a series of treatments including cleansing the patient of burnt ilesh and washing the wounds ywith liquid treatment sprays. It is estimated that the average number of such treatments required would be about fifteen per patient.

Under disaster conditions, it is desirable to have available, large quantities of a low-cost disposable article which can be used as an emergency pallet and as a wash trough for treatment of a burn patient. Such an article for lstorage purpose should preferably be fabricated of a material :and of a construction permitting folding and packing into a small volume. It should be made of material which will not adhere to human flesh burn wounds and which will not degrade in prolonged storage. Such article must be `durable and not subject to attack by vermin or fungi when stock-piled at strategic locations throughout the country.

` It is an object of this invention to provide an inflatable lavatory and pallet article to support human bodies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination lavatory-bed article for human bodies which has an integral pillow and pallet bottom lfor support of a human body, fand side and end walls, and a drain to remove wash fluids therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a low-cost, compactly folded plastic article, inflatable from one filling port to a semi-rigid shape, capable of supporting a prone human body.

In accordance with the present invention, a lavatory-bed for a prone human body is preferably fabricated from a 'length or piece of seamless thermoplastic tubular film into -an open trough comprising integral end and side `walls of inflatable interconnected tubular cells. The trough is also provided with a bottom section having an inflatable pillow of interconnected tubular cells at its head or one end which, along -with inflatable interconnected tubular cells of the side and end walls, are welded to permit inflating air or the like to flow into all the cells from a single inlet means connected into a wall of said trough. At the foot or opposite end of the trough a drain is provided into which a drain tube is connected for drainage of Wash fluids `and debris. Integral with land connecting adjacent side and end `Walls are non-inflatable flap-forming corners; each of -which is foldable upon and fastenable to itself for maintaining the inflated tubular cells of adjacent side and end walls in an upright abutting relationship.

4In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portion of the bottom section extending from the inflatable pillow is sealed olf from inflating air and thereby is non-inatk'atet able, and the end wall at the foot end of the bottom is V-shaped with the drain positioned at the apex of the V to facilitate drainage of washing uids. A non-inflatable or collapsed flap-forming portion at the apex of the foot end wall is foldable upon and fastenable to itself for mauitaining the inflated tubular cells in said end wall bordering on either side of said non-inflatable flap in an upright abutting relationship.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the portion of the bottom section extending from the pillow comprises interconnected tubular cells longitudinal to the length of the trough which are inatable by air owing thereinto from the single inlet means, and a foot end which is sealed off from the inating air and is thereby non-inflatable. Thus, the longitudinal inflatable tubular construction ofthe bottom serves as a pillow and mattress, and provides drain troughs between longitudinal tubular cells for conducting iuid to .the drain in the non-inllated or collapsed foot end which serves as a collecting reservoir for the drain.

In either embodiment of the inventio-n, when a patient is to be treated, the lavatory unit -is unfolded and inflated. Thereafter the single inlet means is sealed by clamping it oif or by appropriate valve means to prevent deilation. The patient is deposited in the inllated lavatory in a prone position with his head on the pillow section and his wound are cleansed vand ilushed by spraying with suitable liquids. Debris from the wounds is llushed along the bottom of the lavatory by drainage of the treatment liquids to the collection section and drain tube at the foot end of the lavatory.

The nature of the invention and the manner in which this invention can be practiced will become 'clear from the detailed description when `taken in conjunction with the accompanying `drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein like reference numerals designate like parts; except as otherwise indicated.

FIGURE l is a perspective View of one embodiment of the lavatory trough in its inflated `condition ready to receive a burn patient.

FIGURE 2 isa side sectional view of the `inflated trough taken on line Z-Z of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a step in the fabrication of the trough shown in FIGURE l before erecting the corners.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, are perspective views of a fragmentary portion of the trough showing the different steps in erecting a corner thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the lavatory trough in its inated condition ready to receive a burn patient.

FIGURE 8 is a side sectional view of the inflated trough taken on line 8--8 `of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of a step in the fabrication of the trough shown in FIGURE 7 before erecting the corners.

Referring now to FIGURE l, the lavatory-bed is shown as a fabricated open trough 10 of two welded co-extensive plies of hlm inated and ready to receive a burn patient. It has end walls 12 and 14 and side walls 16 of inatable interconnected tubular cells which are parallel to the end and side walls of said trough l0, respectively. The trough 10 is also provided with a bottom section 2t) having an inflatable pillow 22 of transverse interconnected tubular cells at its head end which, 'along with the inatable interconnected tubular cells of the side and end walls, are welded to permit inflating air to flow into all the tubular cells from a single inlet means 24, such as a valve connected into the end wall 12. Except for the inter-connected tubular cells of the p-illow 22, the bottom section 20 is sealed off `from inllating air and thereby remains non-inated or at. In the foot end 26 of the bottom a drain 28 and drain tube 3) are provided for removal of wash fluids and debris. At the downstream end of the drain tube 3f), a grommet 32 is applied for permitting it to be fastened to a floor drain, not shown.

To facilitate drainage, the end wall 14 at the foot end 26 is V-shaped with the drain 28 located at the apex thereof. A non-inflatable flap-forming portion 33 at the apex of the end wall 14 is folded upon and lfastened to itself, such as by applying one or more grommets thereto, for maintaining the inflated interconnected tubular cells in said end wall 14 bordering on either side of said noninilatable portion 33 in an upright abutting relationship.

The adjacent side and end walls are joined together at their intersection in an upright abutting relationship by non-inflatable flap-forming corners 34 integral therewith and connected thereto; each of said corners is folded upon and fastened to itself as hereinafter more fully explained.

The lavatory-bed is preferably made from a single length or piece of seamless tubular polyethylene film which can `be eight feet in length, fifty inches in flat width and have a thickness of 4 mil or 6 mil for each ply thereof. The resultant fabricated and inflated lavatory-bed made from such seamless tubular film is typically about eighty inches long, twenty-four inches wide (inside width) with side and end wall six inches high formed by welding in the parent seamless tubular film side and end walls of two multiple tubings each. Moreover, each leg of the V-shaped end wall 14 has a length of about eighteen inches. The pillow 22 in the bottom 210 will be ten inches in width and is formed of two multiple tubings transverse to the length of the trough. At the foot end 26 a drain tube of two inches in diameter by forty inches in length is welded into the bottom 29. The tubular cells of the botto-m and side and end walls are formed by making continuous line welds, such as 3/16 inch wide heat seals which join the plies of the seamless parent tubing. Some of the line welds later described are discontinuous, each end thereof being terminated in circular welds of vabout 1/2 inch in diameter which define unwelded air passages between the film plies and permit inflating air to pass from a single inlet means 24 into all of the cells to be inflated.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3 the trough 10 is formed of a single piece or length of seamless tubular film. Weld 35 is made to define the top edge of the head end wall 12. Similarly, transverse welds 36 made as opposing diagonals having a slope of eleven inches in fourteen inches from the top edge of the V-shaped foot end wall 14.

The side wall tubular cells are formed by parallel welds 38, 38 spaced about four inches on centers. Welds 38 connect with transverse foot end wall welds 40 and are made continuous to air passage "42 of about two inches length in line with the head end pillow section 22. Welds 3S' connect with transverse foot end corner welds 44 and are made continuous to a point opposite air passage 42.

Transverse welds 46, 46 form the head end wall 12. Weld 46 connects with longitudinal head end corner weld 48 and is made continuous to a point spaced from the longitudinal head end corner weld 48 and thereby defines air passage 50. Weld 46 connects with longitudinal head and corner weld 48 and is made continuous to a point spaced from the longitudinal head and corner weld 48 and thereby defines air passage 50.

Transverse welds 40, 40 parallel to and spaced from the top edge foot end weld 36, and made as opposing diagonals having the slope eleven inches in fourteen inches from foot end wall 14. Welds 40 connect with the ltop edge foot end welds 36 and are made continuous to connect with side wall welds 38. Welds '40 also connect with the top edge foot end wall 36, but are continuous to a point spaced from the foot end corner welds 54 and thereby define the air passages 52. Those portions of welds 40 which connect with top edge foot end weld 36 and criss cross at point S6 forms the apex portion 33 and 4 since no air passages are open thereto it remains flat and non-inflated when the tubular cells of the trough 10 are inflated with air.

Welds 58, 58 form a two-cell pillow 22. Weld 58 is parallel to and spaced from head end weld 46, and connects with one side wall weld 38 and is made continuous to a point spaced from opposite side wall weld 38 and thereby defines air passage 61 in line with the air passage 50 of the head end wall 12. Weld 58' is parallel to and spaced from weld S8, and connects with side wall welds 38 at either end. Consequently, the pillow weld 58', Iside wall welds `38, and transverse foot end wall welds 40 form a bottom which except for the pillow section is not open to any air passages, and therefore, will remain flat and non-inflated when the tubular cells of the trough are inflated.

The drain tube 30 is flanged and welded into drain hole 28 in the bottom adjacent the apex of the foot end wall 14. At the down-stream end of the tube 30, a grommet 32 is applied which is fastenable to the grating of a floor drain by cord or the like.

The single air inlet means 24 has a tube which is flanged and welded into a port in the trough preferably ylocated between the head end wall welds 46, 46 and opening directly into the air passage 50.

Head end corner welds 60 are approximately transverse to welds 48, 48 and each is made as a diagonal having a slope of 11/2 inches in eight inches from the side edge of the parent seamless tubular film to the appropriate weld 48 or 48. This construction compensates for the longitudinal contraction of the pillow 22 upon inflation and erects the head end wall and side walls into square corners. Fold line 59 is made as a diagonal of the thus constructed rectangular flap-forming corners.

Foot end corner welds 44 are made from and are perpendicular to the side edge of the parent seamless tubular film to a point spaced from side wall welds 38 thereby defining the inlet of air passage 52. The foot end corner welds 54 are made from and are perpendicular to the foot end edge welds 36 to join weld 44 at its terminus spaced from end wall welds i40. This construction compensates for the longitudinal contraction of the foot end wall as the tubular sections are inflated, and erects it and the side walls in-to square corners. Fold line 59 is made as a diagonal of the thus formed rectangular flapforming corners.

Referring now to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 wherein is shown the erection of a side wall and its adjacent end wall in an upright abutting relationship. Folds 59, then 61 and finally 63 are made in the outstanding triangle of material remaining after each successive fold in -the flapforming corner 34 integral with said adjacent walls. The eight plies of film thus gathered at the corner can be fastened together by using one or more grommets. Metal or plastic grommets having a inch inner diameter by a 13716 inch outer diameter have been found suitable. The flap-forming apex portion 33 of the end wall 14 is similarly folded upon and fastened to itself. In this manner the tubular cells of said wall 14 on either side of said noninllatable apex portion 33 are erected yin an upright abutting relationship.

Referring now to the alternate embodiment of the invention shown in `FIGURES 7-9, the lavatory-bed is shown as a fabricated rectangular open trough 10 of welded thermoplastic film inflated and ready to receive a burn patient. It has end walls 12 and 14 of inflatable interconnected tubular cells parallel thereto. Similarly the trough 10 has side wall 16 of inflatable interconnected tubular cells which are parallel thereto. The trough 10 is also provided with a bottom 20 having an inflatable pillow 22 of transverse interconnected cells at its head end and an inflatable mattress 64 of longitudinal interconnected cells extending from the pillow 22. All interconnected tubular cells of the bottom, and the end and side walls are welded to permit inflating air to flow into all of the tubular cells from a single filling tube 24 connected into the end wall 12. A portion of the bottom 20 at the foot end 26 is not so connected, thus remaining non-inflated and flat, thereby providing a collecting reservoir for wash fluids flowing to the drain 28 and drain tube 3tl centrally located in this reservoir. The tubular construction of the bottom in addition to serving as a -mattress `64 provides drain troughs 68 for conducting fluids to the drain 28.

As in the embodiment shown in FIGURES l-6 the lavatory-bed is preferably made from a single length or piece of seamless tubular polyethylene film of the described dimensions. Of course, the foot end wall 14 in this embodiment is not V-shaped. However, as in the embodiment shown in FIGURES l-6 the line welds later described are discontinuous, each end thereof being terminated in circular welds of about 1/2 inch in diameter which define unwelded air passages between the film plies and permit inflation air to pass from a single filling tube 24 into all the cells to be inflated. Additionally, after inflation the terminus of each of the longitudinal mattress welds adjacent the pillow 22 is under considerable internal strain tending to separate the welds. Such strain is relieved by special 21/2 inches long crescent-shaped welds joined transverse to the terminus of the mattress welds.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 and 9 the trough 10 is formed from a predetermined length of seamless tubular film and thus only the ends thereof need to be welded. Welds 70 and '72 yare made to define the top edges of the end walls 12 and 14 respectively. The side wall tubular sections 16 are formed by parallel welds 74, 76, 78, spaced about four inches on centers. Welds 74, 76', and 74, 78, are terminated at points spaced from one another and thereby define air passage 79 of about two inch length in line with the pillow 22.

The bottom tubular mattress 64 is formed by a plurality of parallel equispaced welds 80, 82. intermediate the side wall welds 74. Welds 82 are connected with transverse drainage weld 84 and are made continuous to a point opposite air passage 79 near the head end. Welds 8f) connect with transverse foot end corner weld 86 and are made continuous to a point opposite air passage 79.

Transverse welds 88 form the head end wall 12 and terminate at both ends at a point spaced from and inside the side corner welds 76 yand thereby define air passages 98. Transverse welds 86 form the foot end wall 14 and terminate at both ends at a point spaced from and inside the side corner welds 92 and thereby define air passages 90.

Transverse Weld 93 forms a two-cell pillow 22 by being placed intermediate the inner head end corner weld 88 and the ends of welds 80, 82 and terminates intermediate air passages 94 inside side corner welds 76.

The drain tube 30 is made about two inches in diameter and forty inches long and is flanged and Welded into drain hole 28 in the bottom 20 central of non-inflatable portion 26. Filling tube 24 is welded into the head end wall preferably on the line of seal '70. The portion of filling tube 24 internal to the article is made about twelve inches long, thus serving as a duct to carry inflation air around the bottom corner as erection of the trough 10 proceeds.

Head end corner welds 96 are substantially transverse to welds 76 and -made as a diagonal having a slope of 11/2 inches in eight inches from the side edge of the parent seamless tubular film to weld 76. rDhis construction compensates for the longitudinal contraction of the pillow 22 upon inflation and erects the head end wall and adjacent side walls into square corners.

Foot end corner welds 98- are transverse to welds 74,v

and made from the edge of the parent tubing to weld 74, and welds 92 are made as a diagonal having a slope at 11/2 inches in eight inches from weld 72 to weld y98. This construction compensates for the transverse contraction of the entire bottom Ztl as the tubular cells are inflated and erects the foot end wall and adjacent side walls into square corners. Fold line 59 is made as a diagonal of the constructed rectangular flap forming corners 34.

The adjacent side and end walls are erected as shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES l-6 and particularly FIGURES 4-6. In order to put the trough 10 into use quickly, the flap-forming corners 34 are erected before storage. v

In either embodiment of the invention, the non-inflated lavatory trough is folded for storage by starting at the foot end and transversely folding several times and folding or rolling lengthwise in a manner that the inflating fluid inlet means is exposed in the terminal end for quick inflation.

When a patient is to be treated, the lavatory trough simply is unfolded and inflated with the single inlet means being sealed by clamping, tying off or by appropriate valve means to prevent deflation. The patient is deposited therein in a prone position with his head on the pillow section and his wounds are cleansed and flushed by spraying with treatment liquids. Debris from the wounds is flushed along bottom by drainage of the treatment liquids to `the collection section and drain tube at the foot end of the lavatory.

The seamless tubing which is preferably employed in forming the trough can be formed by the blown tube extrusion as disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 2,461,975. Although the foregoing is preferred the trough can also be made from sheets of film by placing one ply over another in coextensive relationship and then welding it along the four edges.

The film used in forming the lavatory trough should be capable of being folded and packed into a small volume. Furthermore, lit should be made of film which will not adhere to human flesh burn wounds and will not degrade because of prolonged storage. 'Ihermoplastic films such as polyethylene film, are admirably suited for these purposes.

Since it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the described method and apparatus without departing from the nature and spirit thereof, it is to be understood -that the invention is not limited thereto exceptas set out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable lavatory trough for a prone human body fabricated from a single piece of tubular thermoplastic film, comprising a bottom section having an integral inflatable pillow at its head end and a drain therethrough at its foot end, upright inflatable side and end walls intelgral with said bottom, a fluid inlet means connected into an inflatable portion of said lavatory trough, all of said inflatable portions being interconnected to receive an inflating fluid medium from said fluid inlet means and non-inflatable flap-forming corners integral with adjacent side and end walls wherein each of said integral corner flaps is folded upon and fastened to itself for maintaining said adjacent side end and end walls in an upright abutting relationship.

2. An inflatable lavatory trough for a prone human body fabricated from a single piece of thermoplastic tubular film :comprising a multi-ply bottom section having a drain therethrough at its foot end and an integral pillow of tubular cells at its head end, end walls formed of a plurality of inflatable tubular cells, side walls formed of a plurality of inflatable tubular cells, a fluid inlet means connected into a tubular cell -of said lavatory trough, all of said inflatable tubular cells being interconnected to receive a fluid medium for inflation thereof and noninflata'ble flap-forming corners integral with adjacent side and end walls wherein each of said integral corner flaps is folded upon and fastened to itself for maintaining said adjacent side and end walls in an upright abutting relationship.

3. A lavatory trough as claimed in claim 2 wherein the portion of the bottom section extending from the pillow is sealed ofic from the inflating fluid medium and is thereby non-inflatable.

4. A lavatory trough as claimed in claim 2 wherein the end Wall at the foot end of the bottom is V-shaped having an integral non-inflatable flap-forming portion at the apex of said end wall foldable upon and fastenable to itself for maintaining the inflatable tubular cells in said wall on either side of said flap in an upright abutting relationship.

5. A lavatory trough as claimed in claim 2 wherein a drain tube is connected into the drain in the foot end of the bottom and wherein a grommet is fastened to the downstream end of said drain tube through which means can be extended for securing the drain tube to a floor drain opening having a grating.

6. A rectangularly shaped inflated lavatory trough for a prone human body fabricated from a single piece of thermoplastic tubular film, comprising a multi-ply bottom having a drain therethrough at its foot end and a pillow integral therewith at its head end formed of a plurality of inflated tubular cells running transversely to the length of said lavatory trough, upright side walls formed of a plurality of inflated tubular cells parallel to the length of said lavatory trough, upright end walls formed of a plurality of inflated tubular cells extending across the length of said lavatory trough, said upright end wall at the foot end of said lavatory trough being V-shaped with said drain being located at the apex thereof to facilitate drainage, and non-inflatable corner flaps integral with adjacent side and end walls wherein each of said integral corner flaps is folded upon and fastened to itself for maintaining said adjacent side and end walls in an upright abutting relationship.

7. A rectangularly shaped inflated lavatory trough for a prone human body fabricated from a single piece of seamless thermoplastic tubular film, comprising a multiply bottom section having a pillow at its head end formed of a plurality of inflated tubular cells which are transverse to the length of said lavatory trough, the portion of said bottom section extending from said pillow being noninflatable with a drain therethrough at its foot end, upright side walls formed of a plurality of inflated tubular cells parallel to the length of said lavatory trough, upright end walls formed of a plurality of inflated tubular cells extending across the length of said lavatory trough, said upright end wall at the foot end of the lavatory trough being V-shaped with said drain being located at the apex thereof to facilitate drainage, said V-shaped end wall having an integral non-inflatable flap at its apex folded upon and fastened tc itself for maintaining the inflated tubular cells in said V-shaped end wall on either side of said flap in an upright abutting relationship, a gas inlet means connected into the end wall at the head end of said lavatory trough, all of said tubular cells in the lavatory trough being interconnected to receive inflating gas from said inlet means, non-inflatable corner flaps adjacent said side Aand end walls wherein each of said noninflatable corner flaps is folded upon and fastened to itself for maintaining said adjacent side and end walls in an upright abutting relationship, and means for fastening each of said folded corner flaps to itself.

8. A lavatory trough as claimed in claim 7 wherein said folded corner fastening means is a grommet.

9. A rectangularly shaped inflated lavatory trough for a prone human body fabricated from a single piece of seamless tubular film, comprising upright side and end walls of inflated tubular cells, a bottom section having a mattress, intermediate the ends thereof formed of a plurality of inflated tubular cells which are longitudinal to the length of said lavatory trough, a non-inflated foot end in said bottom section having a drain therethrough and a pillow at the head end of said bottom integral therewith formed of a plurality of inflated tubular cells which are transverse to the length -of saidlavatory trough, a gas inlet means connected into the end wall at the head end of said lavatory trough, all of said tubular cells in the lavatory trough being interconnected to receive inflating gas from said inlet means and non-inflatable corners integral with adjacent said side and end walls wherein each of said non-inflatable corner is folded upon and fastened to itself for maintaining said adjacent side and end walls in an upright abutting relationship,

10. A method for fabricating a lavatory trough having a bottom section and end and side walls from a continuous length of seamless thermoplastic tubular film and in which a prone human body to be worked with treatment fluids is placed, comprising the steps of severing a piece of said tubular film from said continuous length of said tubular film, longitudinally flattening the severed piece of tubular film, welding each severed edge together, forming a plurality of spaced welds in said end walls transverse to the length of the lavatory trough to form interconnected tubular cells, forming a plurality of spaced welds in said side walls parallel to the length of the lavatory trough to form tubular cells interconnected with themselves and the end Wall interconnected tubular cells, forming a plurality of spaced welds in the head end of the bottom section to form a pillow of tubular cells interconnected with themselves and the tubular cells of the end and side walls, forming an inlet in one of said interconnecting tubular cells for introducing therein an inflating fluid medium which inflates all of said interconnecting tubular cells of the side walls, end walls and pillow, forming a drain at the foot end of said bottom section for the drainage of treatment fluid, forming welds at the corners of said lavatory trough that intersect and form flap-forming corners which are sealed off from the inflating fluid medium and thereby not inflated, and folding each of said noninflatable flap-forming corners upon itself and fastening each of said folded corners to itself for maintaining the side and end walls adjacent thereto in an upright abutting relationship upon inflation with the fluid medium.

11. A method as claimed in claim `l() comprising connecting a drain tube into said drain to carry away treatment fluids from said lavatory trough.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 comprising forming a V-shaped end wall at the foot end of the lavatory trough such that the drain in the `bottom section is formed at the apex of said V-shaped end wall.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10 comprising forming wells in that portion of the bottom section extending Ifrom the tubular-celled pillow which are conjointly used in forming the pillow and side and end walls, and which seal off that portion of said bottom section from the inflating fluid medium.

14. A method as claimed in claim 10 comprising forming spaced welds longitudinal to the length of the trough, in that portion of the bottom section extending from the tubular-celled pillow to form a mattress of a plurality of longitudinal interconnected tubular cells which receives the inflating fluid medium from said inlet, and forming a weld at the foot end of the bottom section which seals off said foot end from the inflating fluid medium, the drain in the bottom section being formed in said foot end.

15. Method for forming from a continuous length of tubular thermoplastic film an inflatable rectangular shaped trough in which a prone human body can be lavaged, said trough having integral inflatable side walls, and end walls which comprises severing a piece of tubular film from said continuous length of tubular film, flattening the severed piece of tubing, forming each inflatable side wall by heatsealing together the flattened inner walls of said tube with parallel spaced welded seams running parallel to an intermediate portion of the length of said tubing and adjacent to the edge thereof to form parallel interconnecting tubular cells, forming each inflatable end wall by heat-sealing together the flattened inner walls of said tube with spaced parallel welded seams substantially across the length of said Iilattened tubing to form parallel tubular cells having a length substantially corresponding to the lspace between the innermost seams of the side walls, forming a common supply means in a Wall of said trough for supplying an infiating fluid, all of said interconnecting tubular cells of said end and side walls forming Welds at the corners of said lavatory trough that intersect and form flap-forming corners which are sealed olf from the inating fluid medium and are thereby non-inflatable, and folding each of said non-inflatable flap-forming corners upon itself and `fastening each of said folded corners to itself for maintaining the side and end walls adjacent thereto in an upright abutting relationship upon inflation with the uid.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

